Hong Temple

Hong Temple

Situated atop Xiangshan Mountain—one of the three famed peaks near Longjing Pavilion in Jiangkou—Hong Temple was constructed in the 28th year of the Guangxu reign (1902) by Monk Yang Si after he split from the Great Buddha Temple. Its surrounding walls were painted red, hence the alternative name “Red Temple.”

The original structure of Hong Temple featured enclosing walls eight meters high. Inside the walls stood a main hall built from five-pillar watermelon wood, along with side chambers. Both the interior and exterior buildings were painted red. Visitors entered through a single gate into a large courtyard. To the right of the entrance stood a large stone stele, 1.7 meters tall and 0.9 meters wide, inscribed with details about the temple’s lead builders and the donors who contributed to its construction.

Originally a temple dedicated to Confucius, known as the “Wenchang Temple,” Hong Temple served as a sacred site for worshipping the great sage. Those aspiring to advance in their careers, pursue education, seek wealth, or embark on official paths would first consult the almanac, bring offerings, and come to Hong Temple to pray to Confucius and various deities, seeking blessings for success and smooth journeys. It is said that most worshippers who visited the Confucian shrine had their wishes granted. Word spread rapidly, and Hong Temple in Jiangkou gained a widespread reputation for being “efficacious.” Merchants and devotees passing through would make a point to climb up to the “star” mountain within the city to worship devoutly. The temple flourished with incense and pilgrims.

In 1958, when Jiangkou, Tongren, and Yuping counties were merged, and mass communal canteens were established during the campaign to eradicate the “Four Olds,” individuals dismantled the wooden structures inside Hong Temple’s walls and used the timber as firewood for the canteens. The exquisitely carved foundations, stone slabs, stair edges, and pedestal rocks were all pried loose and rolled downhill for other construction uses. The original path leading up to the temple, once easily passable, was later destroyed and access was prohibited. Even for visitors who climbed up empty-handed just to enjoy the city views, the journey became extremely difficult. After the temple’s destruction, few people ventured up the mountain. Over the years, the ruins became overgrown with wild trees and grass.

After the renewed implementation of the Party’s policies on ethnic and religious affairs, efforts to restore Hong Temple gained momentum. Given its central location in Jiangkou’s bustling urban area and its status as one of the “star” mountains for moon worship, coupled with the fresh air and beautiful scenery, the temple’s revival was strongly supported. The area around Jiangkou at the foot of Mount Fanjing also hosts significant Buddhist sites such as the Great Buddha Temple, Xiangshan Temple, and Huilong Temple, fostering a rich Buddhist cultural atmosphere. Public appeals for the temple’s restoration grew louder. To meet the local community’s religious and cultural needs, the Fanjing Mountain Buddhist Association began preparations for the temple’s reconstruction in the lunar winter month of 2001. Funding was raised through voluntary donations, contributions from lead organizers, and loans. Due to financial constraints, the restoration was carried out step-by-step, proceeding as funds became available. The first phase involved rebuilding the Confucius Wenchang Temple and carving a statue of Confucius, along with nine additional statues of various bodhisattvas and deities. The second phase saw the construction of a Guanyin Hall adjacent to the Wenchang Temple, featuring a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva and several other deities. The restored Hong Temple now has two halls and a total of twenty-one statues of buddhas, deities, and saints. Additional structures including the Mountain Gate Earth God Shrine, Temple God Earth Shrine, Liulang Hall, Lingguan Hall, and small shrines for minor deities along the hiking path were also renovated. Three kitchen rooms and a toilet were added on the mountain. The path up to Hong Temple, winding from the mountain’s base to its peak, has been fully paved with crushed stone, cement, and sand. The stepped pathway, over a meter wide, is easy and safe to walk. The courtyard in front of the main hall has also been cemented. Today, Hong Temple enjoys full access to water, electricity, and roads. It is also equipped with ritual instruments including gongs, drums, wooden fish, bells, handbells, hanging bells, water-offering cups, and plate bells.

Hong Temple and the facing Great Buddha Temple ring with ceaseless bells and the chanting of sutras, composing harmonious melodies that enrich the beautiful city of Jiangkou.